Transition/Adult

Easter Seals Opportunity Center

The Opportunity Center-Easter Seal Community
Rehabilitation Program is a training and employment resource centrally
located at 6300 McClellan Blvd., Anniston, Alabama 36202. It is owned
and operated by the Alabama Easter Seal Society, and is an agency of the
United Way. Many individuals served through the Opportunity Center
programs are referred by the Adult Vocational Rehabilitation Service
(AVRS). Clients residing in Calhoun, Clay, Cleburne, Coosa, Randolph,
and Talladega counties are eligible for services. The primary goal of
the Opportunity Center is to enable disabled individuals to develop
personally and vocationally and to learn skills and work habits
necessary to obtain and maintain competitive employment.Services offered include:Assessment: Vocational Evaluation/Situational
Assessment, Career Exploration, and Pre-Employment Testing (in-house or
on-site).Employability Development: Work/Personal Adjustment
Training, Mobile Adjustment, Job Readiness Classes, Driver's Education,
GED, Personal Development Training, Counseling Support Groups, Computer
Training and Forklift Training.Employment Services: Job Development, Job Coaching,
Job Retention, Follow-Up, and Supported Employment.Support Services: Meals and Transportation.Work Services and Workshop Employment: May be available
to those individuals who have completed a rehabilitation program
(usually to complete primary contracts within the workshop).
Additionally, a limited number of positions may be available to
non-disabled individuals.Contract Services: The Opportunity Center offers a
state of the art, well equipped manufacturing and servicing facility
supplying local industries and military services.

Mission StatementTo provide vocational
development and extended employment for the mentally, emotionally and
physically disabled and other persons with barriers to employment to
maximize their employment potential.

Three important components of this mission include:

Employment opportunities through competitive
placement programs, as well as traditional employment in the workshop.

Work adjustment training in vocational skills,
work behaviors and attitudes.

Counseling and guidance for individuals in
preparation for gainful employment in the community.

History of the Opportunity Center
The Opportunity Center - Easter Seal was founded in 1956 as a Homebound
Program serving the disabled in their homes.
The work center opened on September 10, 1956 serving 25 clients who
trained on numerous contracts for local industries.
Buildings and program expansion continues through funds from the
Department of Vocational Rehabilitation, the Rotary Club and the estate
of Judge L. B. Liles.
Growth and quality services continue to generate more job placements and
client referrals.

Rainbow Omega

Services are considered for men and women who are 18 years or older, who
can benefit from the services and who have a developmental disability. Services include respite, residential and vocational programs.From the Rainbow Omega website: (For more information visit - http://www.rainbowomega.org/)

Rainbow Omega means “hope in the end”. The organization’s name
is derived from the Biblical references to the rainbow (which stands for
hope) and Omega (the last letter of the Greek alphabet). The vision of
the founders was to provide a sheltered community to adults with
developmental disabilities and to provide parents an answer to the
question "What will happen to my child when I can no longer provide care
in my home?" One of our parents put it best when she said, “Rainbow
Omega is an answer to a prayer that I didn’t know how to pray.”

Rainbow Omega, Inc was incorporated in 1991 and the first two
group homes opened in 1995 to serve 16 residents. Since that time, our
operations have grown exponentially. Today, we have 80 residents and an
operational budget near $5 million. Our Mission:
To glorify God by ensuring that adults with
developmental disabilities have a permanent and safe home where their
abilities and potentials are respected and nurtured in a Christian
environment.Our Vision: Rainbow
Omega will be a non-institutional environment that instills both a
family and a community atmosphere where residents experience quality
standards of care while enabling them to grow spiritually and to have
productive, joy-filled and independent lives.

Our Values:

We believe in the sanctity, dignity and worth of each
person.

We are committed to the well-being of our residents
regardless of their disability.